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February 18, 2026

Claiming Independence: Cutting Ties with a Large Firm, Trusting Your Gut, & Letting Go

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“At the end of the day, trust your gut.” – Tish Berbaum

In this episode, Shannon Spotswood, CEO of RFG Advisory, sits down with Founder of Blue Sands Wealth, Tish Berbaum. They explore what it truly takes to step away from a large firm and build an independent advisory business with intentional.

Tish shares the candid reality of her transition, from the pivotal conversations that forced clarity, to the moment she realized she could finally breathe again. She unpacks the mindset shift that led her to delegate portfolio management and operations, and how this create space to focus on relationships and driving growth. Their conversation also dives into the power of niching, making hard decisions around misaligned clients, and what it really takes to build an enterprise designed for scale, impact, and long-term vision.

If you’re a growth-minded Advisor standing at a crossroads, this episode offers clarity, conviction, and perspective.

Key Themes Covered:

  • What it really takes to cut ties and claim independence.
  • The mindset required to delegate and champion growth.
  • The power of niching, client alignment, and a vision for growth.

Ready to Claim Independence & Champion Growth?

As an Advisor, your greatest work often happens when you’re with clients and leading intentional growth. RFG’s corporate RIA platform is engineered to help Independent Advisors do exactly that.

Ready to champion growth? Schedule a 20-minute discovery call to see how RFG’s platform can help you claim independence, win back time, resolve operational friction, and lead growth.

#DisruptionBlueprint #IndependentAdvisor #FinancialAdvisorGrowth #RFGAdvisory #CorporateRIAPlatform

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RFG Advisory

Shannon Spotswood

Tish Berbaum

About Our Guest

Letitia “Tish” Berbaum is Founder of Blue Sands Wealth. Her dedication to delivering investment and strategic planning for her esteemed clientele is results-driven and personalized. With a passion for guiding clients through the intricacies of investing, Tish specializes in wealth management, strategic planning, and wealth transfer strategies, with a keen focus on aiding business owners seeking exit plans.

Through her positions in the industry, she cultivated a multifaceted skill set that inspired her desire to lead as an entrepreneur.

Content here is for illustrative purposes and general information only. It is not legal, tax, or individualized financial advice; nor is it a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold any specific security, or engage in any specific trading strategy.

Information here may be provided, in part, by third-party sources. These sources are generally deemed to be reliable; however, neither our guest nor RFG Advisory guarantee the accuracy of third-party sources.

The views expressed here are those of our guest. They do not necessarily represent those of RFG Advisory, its employees, or its clients. This commentary should not be regarded as a description of advisory services provided by RFG Advisory, or performance returns of any client. The views reflected in the commentary are subject to change at any time without notice.

Securities offered by Registered Representatives of Private Client Services. Member FINRA / SIPC. Advisory services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives of RFG Advisory, LLC (“RFG Advisory or “RFG”), a registered investment advisor. Private Client Services and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where RFG Advisory and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advisory services may be rendered by RFG Advisory unless a client agreement is in place.

RFG Advisory is an SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of RFG by the Commission, nor does it indicate that RFG or any associated investment advisory representative has attained a particular level of skill or ability.

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All investing involves risk, including loss of principal. There is no guarantee the investment process will lead to profits. Past performance of any security or strategy is no guarantee or indication of future results or performance. Market conditions change continuously.

Securities offered by Registered Representatives through Private Client Services. Member FINRA / SIPC. Advisory services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives of RFG Advisory, LLC (“RFG Advisory” or “RFG”), a registered investment advisor. Private Client Services and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where RFG Advisory and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advisory services may be rendered by RFG Advisory unless a client agreement is in place.

RFG Advisory is an SEC-registered investment adviser. SEC registration does not constitute an endorsement of RFG by the Commission, nor does it indicate that RFG or any associated investment advisory representative has attained a particular level of skill or ability.

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